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Kangombe Has Hope Because of You
By Sandy Grubb
Zambia is not a safe place. First we armed ourselves with injections and malaria pills. We drank bottled water
and ate only what was peeled or cooked. We used insect repellants and slept under mosquito nets. Valuables had to be hidden in pouches under our clothing. All this to be the pampered guests at
the Lusaka Holiday Inn.
Finally, we were ready to meet the real Africa. On September 2 LuAnn Yocky, Kathie Williams, Lena Jones, Graig Flach, Allison Craker, Scott
Fortmann, Russ Brown, and I traveled to Kangombe, the village our WOV chapter sponsors through World Vision's HIV/AIDS Hope Initiative.
Life in the village is not safe, but it is improving thanks to development supported by your contributions this past
year. Sufficient rain fell on the seeds and fertilizer WOV provided, producing a harvest that allowed every family in the village to store food for the winter. The prevalence of malaria, often fatal to
children, has dropped 80% since last October when your donations provided treated nets for every person in the village. When we drove into Kangombe the villagers met us with singing and dancing. Translated,
their song was "Kangombe is fine now and so we are dancing. Kangombe has development now because we have friends." I walked with the children to the river and saw the stagnant water and shallow well
that currently provide drinking water for the village. The community is rejoicing that our funds will provide a borehole later this year.
It is dangerous to play 'football' (soccer) in bare feet against a team with 'boots' (soccer shoes). The Kangombe Football and Netball Club,
founded October 20, 2002, has a record of 10 wins and 7 losses. They let us know that they would like it very much if we could provide them with soccer shoes. They believe that playing and watching
these sports has helped to draw villagers away from some bad habits such as drinking.
HIV/AIDS is dangerous for everyone. It steals life from moms, dads, and children. It places a heavy burden on the uninfected as they take
in orphans when they do not have the resources to care for their own. We saw no signs of improvement in this area– please keep praying.
It's dangerous to be born a girl. The girl child is often denied an education because she must do chores. She is married off as young
as 14 or 15 to bring income to her family (minimum of 6 cows)- pray for the girls.
It is sometimes even dangerous to accept gifts in Zambia. As we left we were given two goats, a chicken, and four fertilized eggs. Did you
know you can hold a chicken in one hand by clenching its legs together right below the body?! I hope I looked grateful. I truly was. We drove home that night with the goats tied on the roof,
chicken feathers in the air, and joy in our hearts because God allowed us to be His ambassadors of hope to the poor.
I am very grateful to all our friends who partner with us in this ministry. Visit our website often, www.cwwov.org; it was a generous donation by Debby
Parker at Flathead Valley Web Works. Here you will find our current calendar of events. Call me or anyone on our roster to see where you can use your gifts joyfully to reach out to women and children in
poverty.
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